Kotlin Scope Functions: A Simple Guide to Cleaner Code

When writing Kotlin code, one of the most delightful features you’ll encounter is scope functions. These functions — let, run, with, apply, and also—make your code more readable and concise by providing a temporary scope to work with objects. In this article, we’ll explore what these scope functions are, when to use them, and how they differ from each other.

What Are Kotlin Scope Functions?

Scope functions are built-in Kotlin functions that allow you to:

• Operate on an object within a temporary scope.
• Make your code concise and expressive.
• Avoid repetitive code by eliminating the need to refer to the same object multiple times.

Each scope function provides:

• A specific object reference: this or it.
• A specific return value: Either the object itself or the lambda result.

Now, let’s dive into each scope function with practical examples!

1. let

• Purpose: Perform actions on the result of a function or safely work with nullable objects.
• Object reference: it
• Returns: The result of the lambda.